ProBox recently caught up with Tom Loeffler, founder of 360 Promotions, to get his thoughts on the trilogy fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin. After highly disputed outcomes in their first two bouts, which Loeffler co-promoted, Canelo beat Golovkin on September 17 by unanimous decision in a super middleweight fight.
“This is the first time that Canelo legitimately beat GGG,” Loeffler told ProBox. “I would have liked to see Gennadiy start a little earlier, in terms of taking control of the fight. But he definitely won the last four rounds. If he had started with that momentum earlier, he could have got the decision.”
The first bout took place in 2017, and the rematch occurred the following year. It would take four more years to get Canelo and Golovkin back in the ring together.
“I think it’s pretty clear that Canelo waited longer than he needed to for the trilogy fight”, said Loeffler. “When GGG turned 40, he said, “Alright, I’ll fight him.” Everybody thinks he’s vulnerable now.”
Loeffler continued.
“I don’t think anyone at 40-years-old is able to fight at the skill level that Golovkin is fighting at right now. He fought Canelo in his prime and lost a narrow decision. I guarantee that Canelo won’t look the same at 40 as GGG looks.”
“Canelo stopped Caleb Plant and Billy Joe Saunders, both guys are much younger than GGG.”
Loeffler started working with Golovkin in 2012, following a two-year legal battle between GGG and his former promoter, Universum Box Promotion. At first, he practically had to beg American networks to give his new fighter a chance.
“The TV networks didn’t know to do with a middleweight from Kazakhstan who didn’t speak English very well,” he said. “But he would go on to have a great run on HBO because he was exciting. The fans loved him. Gennadiy opened up a lot of doors.”
“I think GGG has an all-time great career. I still think he has a lot of fight left in him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes back down to middleweight next year and successfully defends his titles.”
Michael Montero can be found on social media via @MonteroOnBoxing. His show “The Neutral Corner” can be seen every Monday on YouTube and heard on audio podcast platforms around the world.